Oral Answers to Questions

Sojan Joseph Excerpts

Tuesday 5th November 2024 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Sojan Joseph (Ashford) (Lab)]

1. What steps her Department is taking to reduce the backlog of Crown court cases.

[Sir Ashley Fox (Bridgwater) (Con)]

10. What steps she is taking to reduce the backlog of Crown court cases.

[The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Heidi Alexander)]

We are funding 106,500 Crown court sitting days this financial year—500 days more than the previous Government originally agreed. To reduce the number of cases that end up at the Crown court, we are also extending magistrates’ sentencing powers to up to 12 months for an individual offence.

[Sojan Joseph]

It is important that victims of crime have the swift access to justice that they deserve, so I welcome the extra funding from this Government that will lead to more than 106,000 sitting days in Crown courts this financial year. That includes nearly 3,000 in the Crown courts in Kent. Does the Minister agree that dealing with the court backlog left by the Conservatives is essential to make sure that offenders are quickly brought to justice and faith is restored in the criminal justice system?

[Heidi Alexander]

I agree. This Government inherited a record and rising Crown court backlog. We walked into a criminal justice system on the brink of collapse, with our prisons overflowing and our courts buckling under the weight of demand. While we cannot fix this mess overnight, we will do everything we can to ensure swift justice for victims and to restore faith in the entire system.